if they can't avoid the fiscal cliff, it means on january 1st, every american will pay more income tax, between 2,000 to $2,200 for the average family. $500 billion in automatic spending cuts will go into effect. half of that at the pentagon. the other half coming in transportation, food safety and research. economists feel if washington can't strike a deal, the economy will fall back into recession and the unemployment rate will shoot up, rob and paula. >> tahman, the clock is ticking in all of this. where do the talks go from here this week? >> well, the white house said president obama presented his plan last week and the gop leaders shot it down. now, the ball is in the hands of the republicans. right now, it's all about the math. republicans may have to cave on taxes but president obama may have to accept deeper spending cuts. only 18 days left. >> the messy art of compromise. tahman bradley live in washington. >>> and rivers are rising across northern california this morning after three powerful storms blow through in less than a week. the latest round of flooding rain drenched t